BOSTON (NNS) -- Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus announced today the next Gerald R. Ford-class aircraft carrier will be named the USS John F. Kennedy.

The selection John F. Kennedy, designated CVN 79, honors the 35th President of the United States and pays tribute to his service in the Navy, in the government, and to the nation.

"President John F. Kennedy exemplified the meaning of service, not just to country, but service to all humanity," said Mabus. "I am honored to have the opportunity to name the next aircraft carrier after this great Sailor and inspirational leader, and to keep the rich tradition and history of USS John F. Kennedy sailing in the U.S. Fleet."

Born in Brookline, Mass., May 29, 1917, Kennedy graduated from Harvard in 1940, and entered the Navy in October 1941.

During World War II, Kennedy took command of PT 109 at Tulagi Island in the Solomons, with a mission to intercept Japanese ships attempting to resupply their barges in New Georgia. In the early morning hours of Aug. 2, 1943, Kennedy's ship was inadvertently struck by an enemy ship and split in half. During the course of the next six days, Kennedy led his crew members to safety and an eventual rescue. Kennedy received the Navy and Marine Corps Medal for the rescue of his crew and a Purple Heart for injuries he sustained when his ship was struck.

After his military service, Kennedy became a congressman representing the Boston area, he was elected to the Senate in 1953, and in 1961 became the youngest person to be elected president.

One previous ship, USS John F. Kennedy, CV 67, was named in his honor and was decommissioned in 2007, after nearly 40 years of distinguished service, including Operation Desert Storm.

The USS John F. Kennedy and other Ford-class carriers will be the premier forward asset for crisis response and humanitarian relief, and early decisive striking power in a major combat operation. The aircraft carrier and the carrier strike group will provide forward presence, rapid response, endurance on station, and multi-mission capability throughout its 50-year service life.

The USS John F. Kennedy will provide improved warfighting capability, quality of life improvements for Sailors and reduced acquisition and life cycle costs. The ship will be constructed at Newport News Shipbuilding, Va., a division of Huntington Ingalls Industries.

Additional information about aircraft carriers is available on line at http://www.navy.mil/navydata/fact_display.asp?cid=4200&tid=200&ct=4.

Sunday, May 29, 2011

USS JOHN C. STENNIS, At Sea (NNS) -- The John C. Stennis Carrier Strike Group (JCSCSG) completed a successful Composite Training Unit Exercise (COMPTUEX) May 27 off the coast of Southern California.

COMPTUEX, a three week exercise required for each carrier strike group, and designed to drill every warfare area from subsurface, surface and air to practice responses to situations that may occur while on deployment.

"We all came together at the beginning of COMPTUEX as individual operating elements, and combined the forces into an effective strike group that is ready to deploy," said Cmdr. Stevin Johnson, strike operations officer.

This is the first time the strike group has worked together since last deployment.Embarked Strike Force Training Pacific evaluators mentored the JCSCSG on integrated operational capabilities through a series of simulations.

Stennis simulated strait transits with other ships from the strike group; conducted multi-mission air wing operations; participated in replenishments at sea; and ran many shipboard drills.

"Like any evolution you have to meet certain requirements before you can get the grade of satisfactory," said Johnson.

Unit specific training allowed the separate strike group assets to practice their roles individually, while other situations reinforced the strike group's ability to integrate and operate as a single force.

"As a strike group we have gotten much better at coordinating our efforts and achieving the desired goal through a united front rather than individual warfare commanders," said Johnson.

With COMPTUEX complete, JCSCSG will begin a Joint Training Force Exercise."This is just the next step to a higher level of training and readiness for JCSCSG," said Johnson. "Next, we roll right into JTFEX and continue the same training we're doing right now but in a more complicated scenario.

COMPTUEX and JTFEX prepared Stennis and the JCSCG for the upcoming deployment this year.

"COMPTUEX has equipped our Sailors to meet worldwide challenges in a safe and professional manner," said John C. Stennis Commanding Officer Capt. Ron Reis. "It has given our crew the confidence and knowledge to be able to execute mission requirements during deployment; from humanitarian relief efforts to dealing with piracy or warfare in any region of the world."

Typhoon Songda is currently southwest of Okinawa with winds of 105 knots gusting to 130 knots, according to the Joint Typhoon Warning Center.

The aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73) and the guided-missile destroyer USS Stethem (DDG 63) are both undergoing maintenance in Yokosuka and will remain in port.

Commander, Task Force 72 repositioned three P-3 Orion aircraft from Kadena Air Base in Okinawa to Misawa Air Base in northern Honshu after Tropical Cyclone Condition of Readiness (TCCOR) 1 was declared. Commander, Task Force 76, usually headquartered at White Beach in Okinawa, temporarily shifted its operations to Kadena Air Base.

Ships in Sasebo, Japan, are being closely monitored, but are not expected to sortie as sustained winds are forecast to remain below gale force.

Several ships at sea also adjusted their tracks to remain clear of the storm.

There are 60-70 ships, 200-300 aircraft and more than 40,000 Navy and Marine Corps personnel assigned to the 7th Fleet. This includes forces operating from bases in Japan and Guam and rotationally-deployed forces based in the United States. Commander, U.S. 7th Fleet, is embarked aboard the command flagship USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19), forward deployed to Yokosuka, Japan.

Saturday, May 28, 2011

This link http://tinyurl.com/3rhkdm8is to a video report on the actual incident that lead to the grounding of the team courtesy of NBC Nightly News. The incident that caused the grounding occurred at the Lynchburg airshow. There is no word when the team will be back on the airshow circuit.

PENSACOLA (NNS) -- The commanding officer of the Naval Flight Demonstration Squadron was relieved of command by chief of naval air training May 27.

Cmdr. Dave Koss requested that Rear Adm. Bill Sizemore relieve him of his command following a lower-than-normal maneuver during the team's last performance at the Lynchburg Regional Air Show May 22.

"With deep personal regret I shared with my command today that I will be voluntarily leaving the greatest flight demonstration team," said Koss. "I performed a maneuver that had an unacceptably low minimum altitude. This maneuver, combined with other instances of not meeting the airborne standard that makes the Blue Angels the exceptional organization that it is, led to my decision to step down. I have the utmost respect for the Sailors and Marines of the Blue Angels organization and all that they embody. The reason this team is so successful, brings thrills to millions of fans across America, and represents the U.S. Navy so superbly, is because of the absolute commitment to safety and perfection by every member of the team. I am honored to have been a part of this organization, and I look forward to watching its success in the future."

Koss will be replaced by the previous Blue Angels' commanding officer, Capt. Greg McWherter, for the duration of the season.

This move requires the cancellation of the Blue Angels' scheduled performances at the Rockford Airfest June 4-5, and the Evansville Freedom Festival Air Show June 11-12. The Blue Angels will remain in Pensacola for additional training and air show demonstration practice. Any potential changes to the team's future schedule will be announced at a later date.

The Blue Angels regret any inconvenience and look forward to continuing to represent the Navy and Marine Corps service members serving around the world.

Friday, May 27, 2011

PENSACOLA, Fla. (NNS) -- The Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron, the Blue Angels, has cancelled both the scheduled flyover for the U.S. Naval Academy (USNA) graduation and commissioning May 27 and their air show performances scheduled May 28-29 in Millville, N.J.

The USNA flyover will now be performed by Strike Fighter Squadron 143, based out of Naval Air Station Oceana, Va.

The Blue Angels will remain in Pensacola, Fla., for additional training and air show demonstration practice. Any changes to the team's future schedule will be determined at a later date.

The Blue Angels regret any inconvenience and look forward to continuing to represent the Navy and Marine Corps service members serving around the world.

Seven airmen from the Air Force's 33rd Fighter Wing are at Naval Air Station Patuxent River for 75 days to gain first-hand experience maintaining the F-35B and F-35C variants, while those aircraft continue flight test and evaluation. They are the second group from the Wing to visit the F-35 test facility at Pax River.

Lockheed Martin is scheduled to deliver the F-35A aircraft AF-8 to Eglin Air Force Base in Florida and the first joint training squadron later this year.

"It is beneficial working around the F-35B and F35-C variants," said Master Sgt. Timothy Weaver, crew chief, and member of the 33rd Fighter Wing. "With this being a joint program, we learn a lot about how each branch handles maintenance. We are learning how the Marines operate, how the Navy operates, and sharing how we operate."

The F-35C is distinct from the F-35A variant with its larger wing surfaces and reinforced landing gear for greater control in the demanding carrier take-off and landing environment. However, the three variants are similar enough that maintainers benefit from performing basic maintenance, such as refueling, launch and recovery and tire changing, all functions the Navy considers day-to-day maintenance, Weaver said.

"The C and A variants have a lot of the same systems, but some of the parts are in different locations," said Weaver. He serves as the lead Air Force maintainer and production supervisor over the day-to-day activities on a flight line. He was also instrumental in the stand-up of the training wing at Eglin.

Eager to know what to expect before AF-8 arrives at Eglin, the maintainers volunteered for this assignment.

Tech. Sgt. Miguel Aguirre, armament specialist, and a quality assurance specialist, is here to gain knowledge of how the Lockheed Martin team performs maintenance. He will be responsible for overseeing the contractor-performed maintenance for AF-8 at Eglin. While there are no weapons being tested yet, Aguirre is the only armament specialist in the Air Force to work directly on the F-35.

"We are the eyes and ears for the group," said Aguirre. And from what he has seen so far, "from a maintenance perspective, the JSF is user-friendly."

"Procedures require that we start small," said Tech. Sgt. Lucas Delk, crew chief, who performs similar duties to the Navy's plane captain. "It is real exciting to see the F-35, and get hands-on experience."

Delk noted minor differences between the Air Force and Navy's carrier variants, but said "the meat and the potatoes are the same."

Weaver's team looks for any opportunity to get their hands dirty, and when they cannot, they are watching and gaining knowledge. "There is always work going on," he said.

"Members of the 33rd Fighter Wing are not just here for training," Weaver added. "We help the test points advance." This Air Force crew will be followed by another group from Eglin this summer.

The AF-8 test asset is currently in Fort Worth, Texas, undergoing airworthiness testing prior to transfer to Eglin. The F-35A conventional take-off and landing model is undergoing testing at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif.

The 33rd is the Defense Department's first joint graduate flying and maintenance training wing for the three F-35 variants organized under Air Education and Training Command's 19th Air Force. It is an associate unit at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. Its mission is to train Air Force, Marine, Navy and international partner operators and maintainers of the F-35.

PE-11, a three-week evolution divided into two phases, is designed to enhance regional maritime partnerships.

Maritime and land forces from 14 countries will participate in the international military partnering exercise in the Mediterranean Sea from May 23 to June 15, and will serve as a training opportunity to enhance each country's ability to work together and to deter illicit trafficking at sea.

"Phoenix Express has evolved over the past six years, growing from six nations in 2005, to 13 participants this year," said Capt. Martin Beck, Task Force Phoenix Express 2011 commander. "It is an essential training exercise in the Mediterranean that fosters trust among allies and partners, leverages our combined maritime strength, and promotes unity of effort to overcome common threats against our maritime security. The classroom training combined with live at-sea events provides a robust opportunity to share a wealth of expertise and experience among the 13 countries participating in this year's exercise."

The in-port phase of the training will focus on medical and MIO training at the NATO MIO Training Center in Souda Bay. Additionally, combined maritime forces pierside will coordinate workshops in helicopter operations and safety, damage control and firefighting, deck seamanship, navigation, SAR, small boat operations and a leadership roundtable. Once the in-port phase is complete, ships and personnel will depart Souda Bay and head into the central Mediterranean Sea to begin the underway training phase.

While underway, ships and their personnel will focus on MDA and the automatic identification system, to include interaction between forces afloat and the CMOC ashore. Combined maritime forces will also execute a series of scenarios exercising force protection measures, MIO – to include visit, board, search and seizure (VBSS); and helicopter VBSS (HVBSS) – SAR, replenishment at sea, towing and helicopter operations.

Tuesday, May 24, 2011

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. (NNS) -- USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) completed a major milestone May 21, by leaving dry dock and transiting down the James River to a pierside location at Newport News Shipbuilding where it will complete the second half of its refueling complex overhaul (RCOH).

TR has been in dry dock since August 2009. Since then, the ship's shafts, propellers, rudders, anchors, and catapult and arresting gear machinery, have been replaced or refurbished.

In order for TR's first underway in nearly two years to be successful, the Sailors, shipyard and the Supervisor of Shipbuilding (SUPSHIP) relied on both experience and teamwork to accomplish the mission.

"Everything went according to plan, and I couldn't have asked for better performance," said Capt. Billy Hart, USS Theodore Roosevelt commanding officer. "This is day one of us taking the ship back. We are no longer in the dry dock, so this is Theodore Roosevelt Sailors' ship. It's now up to every TR Sailor to prove the success of this ship."

For many Sailors, TR's short underway is validation for all the hard work and preparation that was put into getting the ship ready for this milestone.

"Without teamwork there is no way this evolution could have been completed successfully," said Boatswain's Mate 2nd Class (SW/AW) Jesus Lopez, Deck Department's 2nd division assistant leading petty officer. "This is my second time taking a ship out of dry dock, and I know first hand what it takes. It takes every Sailor on board TR working together and having each other's back, and completing their jobs together."

According to the ship's navigator, another reason for the success of the ship's movement was the thousands of man hours of preparation.

"Anytime you move a 90,000 ton vessel even a short distance, it takes a huge amount of preparation," said Cmdr. Roger Curry, USS Theodore Roosevelt navigation officer. "There were no surprises. The shipyard, ship's force and SUPSHIP were able to communicate very well. All the inter-personal relationships and integral communication allowed for one big team effort and the result is that TR is safely pier side after a smooth evolution."

Quartermaster 2nd Class (SW/AW) Candice Stone, TR's navigation detail plotter, was responsible for plotting and tracking the ship's movement during the brief underway. Stone and her team had been training for this day since March.

"I'm very proud of the way TR handled is first underway in such a long time," said Stone. "We worked hard for this moment, not just my team but everyone on TR involved in this move. Everyone was in place when they needed to be and completed their jobs with excellent communication and expertise. I'm proud to have been a part of this underway."

Theodore Roosevelt is currently undergoing its scheduled mid-life RCOH at Newport News shipbuilding, a division of Huntington Ingalls Industries. During the 39-month maintenance period, TR's fuel will be replenished and significant upgrades will be made to the ship's combat and communication systems to extend the ship's service life for 25 or more years. All Nimitz-class aircraft carriers go through RCOH near the mid-point of their 50-year life cycle.

PENSACOLA, Fla. (NNS) -- The Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron, the BlueAngels, has cancelled the practice demonstration and air show scheduled for May 24-25 at the U.S. Naval Academy (USNA) in Annapolis, Md.

This cancellation is due to a safety stand-down period imposed by the team's commanding officer after a lower-than-normal maneuver that took place during the team's last performance at Lynchburg Regional Air Show May 22 in Lynchburg, Va.

Following this low maneuver all aircraft landed safely without damage or injury to personnel.

During the training stand-down the team will remain in Pensacola, Fla., for additional training and air show demonstration practice. It has yet to be determined ifthe Blue Angels will perform the flyover at the USNA graduation May 27.

The Blue Angels regret any inconvenience and look forward to continuing to represent the Navy and Marine Corps.

RCOH is a mid-life refueling and modernization program for aircraft carriers that enable them to complete the final half of their 50 year service life. During an RCOH, more than 20 million man-hours of work are conducted on board the ship, divided between refueling the propulsion plant, upgrading ship's infrastructure to last for the next 25 years, and modernizing combat systems and air wing capabilities to increase combat effectiveness.

CVN 71 will be the first RCOH to incorporate work normally carried out during a Fleet maintenance availability, returning the ship to the Fleet sooner and at lower cost.

"Undocking of USS Theodore Roosevelt marks a major step towards completing her RCOH on time and within budget," said Rear Adm. Michael McMahon, program executive officer for Aircraft Carriers. "The Navy/shipbuilder team that worked together to make this happen is committed to keeping America's aircraft carrier fleet operationally available and ready to meet any requirement for their full service life."

CVN 71 has been moved to an outfitting pier to complete the remainder of her RCOH in December 2012.

Theodore Roosevelt is the fourth Nimitz-class aircraft carrier to undergo RCOH at Newport News. Advance planning is currently underway for the USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) RCOH, scheduled to begin in Fiscal Year 2013.

PEO Aircraft Carriers is responsible for the acquisition, modernization and support of the Navy's in-service and future aircraft carriers.

Sunday, May 22, 2011

Saxon Warrior is an exercise designed to develop theater-specific combat skills as well as enhance cooperation between multi-national forces and government agencies.

Led by the United Kingdom-based Flag Officer Sea Training (FOST), Saxon Warrior presents a myriad of challenges to the multi-national and multi-platform force by creating a diverse and unpredictable war environment based on fictional geo-political and military scenarios.

The eight-day exercise taking place off the coast of England is presented in phases. The initial phase presents single-mission scenarios encompassing surface, submarine, and air combat, as well as maritime security operations such as counter-piracy and visit, board, search and seizure missions. The various stand-alone scenarios are designed to effectively test a large number of combat skills in preparation for the final phase's multi-mission war and future real-world maritime operations. The exercise will culminate with a simulated war, May 26.

In addition to enhancing the mission readiness of GHWB CSG, the exercise presents an opportunity to carry out sustained and coordinated military operations with a number of allies and military agencies. The exercise will include surface ships, submarines and aircraft from several North American Treaty Organization (NATO) members including the U.S., United Kingdom, France, Germany, Sweden, Canada and Spain.

"We look forward to working with U.K. and other NATO forces during Saxon Warrior '11," said Rear Adm. Nora Tyson, GHWB CSG commander. "These crucial training opportunities greatly enhance our interoperability and information sharing, which help ensure our national and international security. It's all about building partnerships, establishing trust, and leveraging the unique capabilities and strengths of each member of the combined force."

Saxon Warrior presents an opportunity to face a variety of geo-political situations that change from day to day, providing a tactical contrast that will build upon the in-depth, extended timeline scenario training used during the composite training unit exercise (COMPTUEX) and joint task force exercise (JTFEX), which the strike group completed in February.

Capt. John Fuller, deputy commodore, Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 22, said the rapidly changing nature of Saxon Warrior provides a different military training environment for a deployed strike group.

"Saxon Warrior gives us a challenging environment in which to use our war-fighting skills," Fuller said. "We have to think quickly outside the box. The more agile we are, the more prepared we'll be for any mission that comes up during deployment. That's the beauty of Saxon Warrior."

During the exercise, multi-national aircraft squadrons will practice low-level flight operations, air-to-air engagements, long-range strikes and close support of surface combatant ships. As in previous exercises, training vessels will be used to provide boarding parties a realistic test of their skills on missions that may be encountered in future areas of deployment.

Cmdr. Erich Röetz, Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 2's future operations officer, said the wide variety of warfare scenarios will challenge both the strike group as well as the allied forces.

"Saxon Warrior will test every aspect of our war-fighting capabilities—from air wing strikes to the self-defense of the carrier." Röetz said. "The beauty of operating with coalition partners is that we practice with them, learn their strengths, and then blend those strengths together to make the most potent coalition force possible."

An aircraft carrier variant of the F-35C Joint Strike Fighter flies over Andrews Air Force Base, Md., during the Joint Service Open House. This is the first public appearance of a joint strike fighter aircraft at an air show. Lt. Cmdr. Eric "Magic" Buus piloted the aircraft. The F-35C is a fifth generation strike fighter with stealth capability and has larger wing surfaces and reinforced landing gear for the demanding carrier environment. The aircraft is undergoing test and evaluation at Naval Air Station Patuxent River. (U.S. Navy photo by Andy Wolfe courtesy of Lockheed Martin/Released)

ANDREWS AIR FORCE BASE, Md. (NNS) -- The F-35C Joint Strike Fighter made its first public appearance at an air show May 21.

Piloted by Lt. Cmdr. Eric "Magic" Buus, the F-35C made a single pass down the show line at the Joint Service Open House at Andrews Air Force Base, Md.

The flight commemorated 100 years of naval aviation by highlighting the future of tactical air power for the U.S. Navy. The F-35C variant of the joint strike fighter is distinct from the F-35A and F-35B versions with its larger wing surfaces and reinforced landing gear for greater control in the demanding carrier take-off and landing environment.

The flyover originated from the F-35C's primary test site at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Md. and was executed in the same manner as any controlled test sortie. The aircraft, CF-2, flew within its approved flight envelope and was accompanied by an F-18 Hornet flying chase.

The F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter program is in the system development and demonstration phase, focusing on delivering three different and new aircraft variants to the U.S. Marine Corps, Navy and Air Force. All three variants integrate advanced low observable stealth into a supersonic, multi-role fighter.

Saturday, May 21, 2011

KENTUCKY AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, Ky. (AFNS) -- Kentucky Air National Guard officials stood up a joint air operations center here (Louisville IAP/Standiford Field, KY-LVH) May 16 to serve as the main command node for all of the state's fixed-wing and rotary aircraft that are participating in the largest earthquake-response exercise in U.S. history.

The week-long event, called National Level Exercise 2011, is designed to test the local, state and national response to a simulated earthquake along the New Madrid Fault. It includes participation from emergency responders in eight central states, the National Guard and multiple federal entities like the Department of Defense and the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Kentucky's Joint Air Operations Center is supporting the exercise by prioritizing and allocating air assets for missions into affected areas across the commonwealth, transporting personnel and equipment, and providing aeromedical evacuation and search-and-rescue capabilities as appropriate, said Brig. Gen. Mark Kraus, who commands the JAOC and is Kentucky's Joint Forces Air Component commander.

"Yesterday, we were alerted to the simulated earthquake, reported for duty, set up our facility here, checked our communication lines, and made sure our plans were in place to receive taskings and then allocate missions to either C-130 (Hercules) planes, (UH - 60) Black Hawk or whatever air assets we might have," he said. "The initial focus was on search and rescue, so our job was to get teams from different parts of the state into the affected areas, primarily the 24 western Kentucky counties deemed most at risk from a New Madrid earthquake."

Kentucky Air Guard officials also performed airfield assessments May 16, flying a joint team of Air and Army National Guardsmen to airports across the state, where they conducted tests and surveys to determine which runways were undamaged by the earthquake and could support humanitarian airlift operations if necessary.

The purpose of National Level Exercise is to prepare the military, including the U.S. Navy, to focus on defense support to civil authorities (DSCA) for missions assigned through the U.S. Northern Command (USNORTHCOM) to Homeland Defense organizations.

"We are very proud of our [CNIC] team and the region's performance during AS/NLE-11. We firmly believe our high performance was due to CNIC's Training and Readiness pre-exercise support, to include the Region Operations Center, operations course, as well as the command's culture of training instilled through weekly recurring Emergency Operations Center (EOC) training and emergency management (EM) plan preparation sessions," said Scott Ebell, executive director, Navy Region Midwest.

The objectives of the exercise were to train in the following areas:

• restoration of USN facilities and infrastructure in the affected area• support of the extended Navy family• DSCA and immediate response• personnel accountability in response to an unanticipated natural disaster

"The use of the modeling and simulation (M&S) tools greatly enhanced the quality of the exercise injects, providing a realistic scenario for the installation commanding officer and staff. We will leverage M&S in all our future exercises," said William Clark, shore exercise program manager, CNIC.

Exercise play spanned the Navy, from Chief of Naval Operations guidance, through personnel accountability and mission support, down to 'affected' installations handling scripted scenarios.

USFF serves as the Navy operational commander for U.S. Northern Command (USNORTHCOM) during disaster preparedness/response and DSCA type exercises.

CNIC, along with USFF, receives requests for support (RFS) from subordinate commanders (such as Navy Region Midwest and Naval Support Activity Mid-South), which result in providing support and services ranging from baby supplies to damage assessment teams.

The Navy participated in AS/NLE 2011 May 16 -19. The exercise was centered around a scenario of a 7.7 magnitude earthquake that occurred in western Tennessee near Memphis, creating widespread damage and casualties throughout eight midwestern states and four Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) regions.

Friday, May 20, 2011

USS JOHN C. STENNIS, At Sea (NNS) -- The John C. Stennis Carrier Strike Group conducted a simulated strait transit off the coast of Southern California, May 18.

The simulation was the second planned by Commander, Strike Force Training Pacific (CSFTP) as a part of a composite unit training exercise (COMPTUEX) for the strike group.

"The reason we practice strait transit is because we are potentially vulnerable while conducting the operation," said Stennis Tactical Action Officer Lt. j.g. Patrick Emery.

CFSTP was on site in many areas of the ship to observe and evaluate the strike group performance.

"What we saw today was the application of lessons learned from the previous strait transit simulation conducted earlier this month," said Lt. Cmdr. William Wood, CFSTP cryptologic resources coordinator. "This was the most complex evolution of the COMPTUEX and one of the most exciting."

The CSFTP team designed scenarios to test the strike group in tense situations based on real strait transits.

"We observe a foreign country's response to a strait transit and use that intelligence in our simulation so the carrier strike group goes through something as realistic as possible," said Cryptologic Technician (Technical) 2nd Class Nicholas Fugate, CFSTP intelligence analyst mentor trainer. "It is essential for a strike group to perform this training so they know what to expect while on deployment."

The CFSTP teams' realistic simulation allowed the strike group to respond with real-time interaction.

"With this evolution, we were stressing the command and control of the strike group and exercising the communication flow from the strike group to the fleet commander," said Capt. Richard Thomas, CSFTP surface operations officer.

CSFTP acted as a fleet commander as part of the exercise in order for the strike group to make requests and perform as if it was a real situation.

"The strike group must request permission from the fleet commander to conduct certain operations while in the various fleets of the world," said Fugate.

The goal of the strait transit simulation was not to teach the carrier strike group to engage and attack potential enemies.

"The goal of the evolution was to teach the strike group to avoid escalating the situation, and to monitor and assess the potential threats," said Thomas. "Restraint is a major component of this exercise."

During the exercise, potential threats were spotted on radar and helicopters were tasked to investigate and report back to the strike group.

"Communication is the key," said Lt. Kyle Johnson, CFSTP helicopter operations officer. "The helicopter squadrons applied the skills learned from the first simulation and are dealing with potential threats to the strike group."

During the exercise, helicopters performed blocking maneuvers to protect the strike group from potential threats while the strike group continued to analyze the threats.

"The strait transit can be a very stressful situation, but I feel we did very well," said Emery.

The strike group is tasked to learn both skill sets required to enter into 5th and 7th fleet.

"Today's exercise was the pinnacle of a 5th Fleet scenario dealing with multiple warfare areas to include maritime security operations," added Thomas. "We constantly update training to incorporate and emphasize important elements learned from 5th and 7th Fleet headquarters. By constantly evolving, we can stay current and give the strike group the best, most-up-to-date tools to be successful on deployment."

As COMPTUEX continues, CSFTP will continue to train Sailors of the John C. Stennis Carrier Strike Group for their upcoming deployment.

POINT MUGU, Calif. (NNS) -- The three crew members aboard an Omega Air Boeing 707 tanker that crashed on the evening of May 18 from Naval Base Ventura County (NBVC) Point Mugu escaped with minor injuries.

The jet was attempting to take off when the mishap occurred. The resulting fire was contained by responding units within a few hours.

Responding to the fire were two engines and three crash trucks from NBVC's Federal Fire Department, one Air Squad helicopter from the Ventura County Sheriff's Department, four engines and one water tender from the Ventura County Fire Department and one water tender from the City of Ventura Fire Department.

Omega Air Refueling is a civilian company under contract by the Navy to provide fleet operations support on Point Mugu's sea test range.

The National Transportation Safety Board is conducting an investigation into the cause of the crash.

Wednesday, May 18, 2011

USS GEORGE H.W. BUSH, At Sea (NNS) -- Ships and embarked squadrons from George H.W. Bush Carrier Strike Group (CSG) entered U.S. 6th Fleet's Area of Responsibility (AOR), May 16.

Entering 6th Fleet is a significant milestone for the thousands of Sailors serving in the CSG that includes the nation's newest and last Nimitz-class aircraft carrier during her first combat deployment, as it is the first operational employment after almost a year of rigorous training.

"The men and women of GHWB CSG are contributing to America's legacy of promoting peace, prosperity, security and freedom of the seas as we conduct Maritime Security Operations with our partner nations in the 6th Fleet AOR," said Commander, Carrier Strike Group Two, Rear Adm. Nora Tyson.

While in the Eastern Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea, GHWB CSG will conduct a full range of maritime operations and theater security cooperation efforts in concert with coalition, joint, interagency and other partners to improve operational proficiency, and maintain maritime safety and security.

"It is a true honor to lead such a talented and dedicated group of professionals at sea. We are prepared to execute any tasking in support of our maritime strategy," Tyson said. "This first combat deployment for George H.W. Bush will go down in history as one of the milestones of naval aviation's centennial, which we celebrate this year."

Upon completion of its mission in 6th Fleet, GHWB CSG is scheduled to operate in 5th Fleet AOR in support of maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts.

The U.S. Navy variant of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, the F-35C, conducts a test flight over the Chesapeake Bay. Lt. Cmdr. Eric "Magic" Buus flew the F-35C for two hours, checking instruments that will measure structural loads on the airframe during flight maneuvers. The F-35C is distinct from the F-35A and F-35B variants with larger wing surfaces and reinforced landing gear for greater control when operating in the demanding carrier take-off and landing environment. (U.S. Navy photo courtesy Lockheed Martin/Released)

PATUXENT RIVER, Md. (NNS) -- Naval Air Systems Command announced May 17 that the test aircraft for the carrier variant of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter is exceeding test and evaluation program goals so far this year.

According to the announcement, the F-35C test aircraft, 'CF-1,' currently at Naval Air Station Patuxent River has completed 36 test flights as of May 11, nearly half the program's goal for the year of 85.

"CF-1's been flying well, even with a number of planned and unplanned maintenance periods," said U.S. Marine Corps Col. Roger Cordell, military site director. "It's a great sign for the fleet that the aircraft is doing well so early in the test program."

In April, CF-1 completed 13 flights, tying a record for the number of test flights for any aircraft at Naval Air Station Patuxent River. Additionally, the integrated test team has completed seven CF-1 test flights this month.

"The team has been doing a great job staying on top of maintenance requirements," said Jim McClendon, Lockheed Martin site director vice president. "Just last week, CF-1 flew six flights in six days, which is a great accomplishment in any test program, let alone test and evaluation for a brand new aircraft."

Coupled with this week's arrival of the second carrier variant, CF-2, and arrival of CF-3 later this year, the F-35C test program is making rapid progress toward initial carrier suitability testing this year at Joint Base Lakehurst-McGuire-Dix in New Jersey.

First carrier suitability testing this summer is scheduled to include the first catapult launches, and the F-35C is scheduled to commence shipboard testing in 2013.

The F-35C is the carrier variant of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, with larger wing control surfaces and reinforced landing gear to operate in the maritime environment. The F-35C is undergoing test and evaluation to evaluate flutter, loads and mission systems at NAS Patuxent River prior to eventual delivery to the fleet.

The 20th FW controlled the alert mission from Sept. 11, 2001 to Nov. 15, 2003 and again from Aug. 1, 2006 to May 9, 2011.

The alert mission is a critical component to the strategic force that is poised 24/7 to respond to airborne threats over the United States, officials said.

The ASA mission requires three dedicated armed alert aircraft (two primaries and one spare) at each of the alert locations, with two pilots and associated maintenance and support personnel on duty 24/7.

"Shaw's role in the alert mission was to defend the Southeast Air Defense Sector and the 79 million American citizens within that sector from airborne threats," said Col. James Sears, 20th Operations Group commander.

The ribbon-cutting ceremony marked the opening of the Air Force's newest alert site and the South Carolina Air National Guard's assumption of the homeland defense mission.

"I want to thank the 20th FW for meeting the challenge despite all the other things I know you have to do," said Maj. Gen. Garry Dean, the commander for the Continental U.S. North American Aerospace Defense Command Region - 1st Air Force, who spoke at the ceremony. "It's been an outstanding run."

As the 20th FW passes the alert mission to Airmen at McEntire JNGB, Colonel Sears expressed his best wishes and great expectations.

"We wish the 169th FW and the McEntire ANG the best as they take on this critical mission of defending the South East United States," Colonel Sears said.

I am pleased to announce the public release of our 12th annual 2011 Monitoring Times Air Show Guide, now available on the Monitoring Times magazine website. You can get your copy by clicking here.

If you find this guide useful in monitoring an air show you attend this year, we can use your field reports of the frequencies that you monitored, even if we have them on our list. Your help in keeping this guide active is sincerely appreciated and needed to keep this an accurate resource for the hobby. You can reach us at the email address in the masthead.

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